CVE-2015-0753 in Unified Email Interaction Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Cisco Unified Email Interaction Manager (EIM) and Unified Web Interaction Manager (WIM) 9.0(2) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCuu30028.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0753 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Cisco Unified Email Interaction Manager and Unified Web Interaction Manager versions 9.0(2). This vulnerability exposes the affected systems to remote code execution through maliciously crafted SQL commands, creating significant security risks for organizations relying on these communication platforms. The flaw manifests in the authentication and data processing mechanisms of these unified communication systems, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate database queries through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability impacts the core functionality of these platforms, which serve as critical components in enterprise communication infrastructure, handling sensitive email and web interaction data for organizations of all sizes.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied inputs within the web interfaces of these Cisco products. When legitimate users interact with the system through web-based management tools or API endpoints, the application fails to properly validate or escape input parameters before incorporating them into backend database queries. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes within the database context, potentially enabling full database access, data manipulation, or even system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows for remote exploitation from any location on the internet. According to CWE standards, this represents a classic CWE-89 SQL Injection vulnerability, where the weakness occurs when user input is directly incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0753 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive corporate communications, user credentials, and business-critical information stored within the affected systems. Organizations utilizing these platforms may experience unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and significant financial losses. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere in the world, making traditional network perimeter defenses insufficient for protection. Security incidents resulting from this vulnerability could trigger extensive forensic investigations, system restoration efforts, and regulatory reporting requirements, particularly in industries subject to strict data protection regulations. The attack surface includes not only the web management interfaces but also any API endpoints or web services that may be exposed to external networks, amplifying the potential impact across enterprise environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying Cisco's security patches and updates released in response to this vulnerability, which address the underlying SQL injection flaws through proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Network segmentation should be employed to isolate these critical systems from general network access, while implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious database query patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential additional vulnerabilities in the broader communication infrastructure. Access controls should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication and principle of least privilege enforcement, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and execution through database systems, making comprehensive incident response planning essential for organizations that have not yet patched their affected systems.